How the 9/11 attacks changed life in San Diego

Aftereffects of terrorist attacks include longer waits at the border, tighter security for travelers and military growth

Officer Chris Priser of U.S. Customs and Border Protection checked the passport book of a motorist entering the United States at San Ysidro yesterday, the first day that new regulations under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect.
— Howard Lipin / Union-Tribune

Officer Chris Priser of U.S. Customs and Border Protection checked the passport book of a motorist entering the United States at San Ysidro yesterday, the first day that new regulations under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect.
/ Howard Lipin / Union-Tribune

Further growth is expected as the Defense Department shifts more ships and resources to the West Coast, where they’re better positioned to respond to threats and humanitarian needs in the Middle East and Asia. The number of ships based in San Diego is expected to rise from about 56 today to 84 by the end of 2014. The shift comes as Camp Pendleton is undergoing a $3 billion expansion and renovation.

“We’ve gone from focusing on traditional threats to irregular ones,” said Eric Wertheim, author and editor of the Naval Institute’s Combat Fleets of the World. “The Navy’s mantra is now, ‘Be a global force for good and for security.’ ”

The change is reflected in the makeup and mission of ships. The Navy is preparing to outfit some vessels with missiles that can knock down missiles fired by countries such as Iran and North Korea.

“Sea-based ballistic missile defense has gotten a big boost because you can place a cruiser or destroyer near land,” Wertheim said.

The Navy also is investing in Littoral Combat Ships, which can operate at high speed in shallow water throughout the world. The first two such vessels are homeported in San Diego, and some local ships will be part of ballistic missile defense.

Gary Robbins

Security

In a frosted-glass screening booth, TSA instructor Dale Paguirigan reviews a demonstration image from the new full-body scanner at Lindbergh Field in San Diego.— Eduardo Contreras / Union-Tribune

In a frosted-glass screening booth, TSA instructor Dale Paguirigan reviews a demonstration image from the new full-body scanner at Lindbergh Field in San Diego.
— Eduardo Contreras / Union-Tribune

Created in the wake of 9/11, the Transportation Security Administration was given the responsibility of overseeing security of the nation’s transit systems. Its inspectors, officers and air marshals look for bombs at airport checkpoints, inspect rail cars and patrol subways.

Airline passengers have had to adjust to an evolving set of rules, submitting to closer scrutiny of their identification, pat downs and full-body scans.

Another legacy of 9/11 — the Department of Homeland Security — issued millions of dollars in grants that flowed into the San Diego region.

Since 2001, the city of San Diego has received at least $80 million, using some of the money to place security cameras at trolley stations, the port and along Mission Bay. The port district received about $30 million to protect landmarks such as the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, marine and cruise ship terminals and the San Diego Convention Center.

Government officials say much more interagency communication takes place than before 2001, with federal, state and local agencies working together to identify terror threats.

Karen Kucher

Border

Waits at the border grew much longer after 9/11 as security concerns prompted closer scrutiny of passengers and cargo entering the United States. Those who want to visit Mexico and re-enter the U.S. must present a passport, passport card or other approved documentation.

Travelers who could cross in as little as 20 minutes before 9/11 now face waits of as long as four hours, particularly on holidays. Commercial truckers can encounter waits of up to six hours, said Marney Cox, chief economist for San Diego Association of Governments.

“I doubt we will ever get back to wait times that are similar to the ones that were before 9/11,” Cox said.

A 2008 SANDAG study estimated that San Diego County and Baja California lost about $6 billion because of people who opted out of crossing the border. The delays, as well as the recession and violence in Mexico, also caused a dip in the number of crossings.